Plate-locking mechanism



H. A. W. WOOD PLATE LOCKING MECHANISM Feb. 6, :1934.V

Filed Maron :22, 1932 vn@ .N NI Q. 2

,EEE u Patented Feb. 6, 193,4

UNITED .STATES 1,945,611 PLATE-LoCKING MECHANISM Henry AA. Wise Wood,New York, N. Y., assigner to Wood Newspaper Machinery Corporation, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of Virginia Application March V22, 1932.Serial No. 600,444 7 claims. (cl. 1014-378)` The principal object ofthis invention is to provide means whereby a printing plate by itslongitudinal motion on the plate cylinder will itself produce a clampingaction, preferably-both at the head and foot of the plate. Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a very simple and convenientdevice in which the plate cooperates with the margin bar for producingthe above mentioned result.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 isan outside elevation of one side of a printing plate constructed tooperate in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same as indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the same, looking in the direction of thearrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan of a part of the margin bar showing two plates inunclamped position;

Fig. 5 is asimilar view showing the plates in clamped position;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the same parts;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken radially with respect to the cylinder,showing two plates arranged longitudinally in unclamped position, and

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing these plates after they are clamped.

1929, Serial No. 353,201, in which the plate is held down on what iscalled the head and foot thereof by ledges carried by the margin bar. Inthat case the movement of the plate into clamping position did notaffect the holding down of the plate along its head and foot.

This invention relates to that general type of plate-locking mechanismbut including the added feature of a construction whereby when the plateis moved longitudinally on the cylinder by the clamping means into itsfinal position, this longitudinal motion of the plate by itself causesthe plate to be held securely against the cylinder by the margin bar atthe head and foot of the late. p Each plate P' and P2 carries aprojection l0 along each opposite straight surface, that is, the

head and foot. This projection, of course, is ar- I have previouslyfiled an application April 6,

the inner end of the plate, that is, the end of the plate that extendstoward the center ring 11.

The cylinder is provided with the usual stationary center ring l1,movable center clip 12 and end clamp 13. They can be operated in anydesired way, but the invention is shown as applied to the type of clampin which the plates are put on loosely as shown in Fig. 7 and the endclamp is screwed vup to force the plate P2 up against the center clipand'then force that by the plate P2 up against the plate P' untilfinallyv 55 the latter is locked at the other end under the center ring.

It will be seen that this slant on the wedge l0 is in the direction ofmotion of these plates. Now the longitudinal margin bar 14 is providedon op-l 70 posite sides with longitudinal projections 15 having underslanting surfaces complementary to the slanting surfaces of theprojections 10 on the plates and adapted to overlap the same. It is notnecessary that the projections on the plates be entirely out of linewith the margin bar when the plate is placed on the cylinder, becausethe plates are placed on the cylinder in a direction parallel with theunderside of the margin bar.

It will be obvious therefore that when the plates are moved up, as justdescribed, into clamping position, the projections 10 will Wedge theplate under the edges or projections on the margin bar by the motion ofthe plate in a longitudinal direction. If these elements are provided onboth sides, that is, the head and foot, the plates are held down againstthe cylinder at one or more points between their ends merely by theusual locking motion. No additional mechanism is required to secure'thisresult and the locking is accomplished in the most rm and rigid manner.The position of the clamped plates is shown in Fig. 8 and the detail ofthis new locking means in Fig.'5. 95

The form shown herein is extremely simple for securing the desiredresult and I am aware of the fact that other equivalent constructionscan be employed for the same purpose without departing from the scope ofthe invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish tolimit myself to the exact form shown, but what I claim 1. In a plateclamping device, the combination with means for moving a platelongitudinally on 105 a plate cylinder up to clamping position at itscircular ends, of means whereb v the motion of the plate into clampingposition will clamp down its straight edge against the cylinder.

2. The combination with a plate clamping deno vice by which a stereotypeplate is clamped at its circular ends by a longitudinal motion along thecylinder on which it is located, of' means whereby the operation of theclamping of the plates at its ends will also clamp the plates down atits head and foot on the cylinder.

3. In a plate clamping device, the combination with a plate cylinder,its stationary center ring, its longitudinal movable center clip and itsend clamp, of means whereby when the end clamp is moved to force twoplates on the cylinder into clamping positions on the cylinder, the headand foot of each plate will be clamped down thereby against thecylinder.

4. The combination with a plate cylinder and its margin bar, of a platehaving a wedge-shaped projection extending under the margin bar, themargin bar also having a complementary wedgeshaped surface engaging saidprojection, whereby the motion of the plate longitudinally will forcethe plate firmly into contact with the cylinder by the co-action of saidWedge-shaped surfaces.

5. The combination with a printing plate cylinder and a margin barhaving' two opposite projections along its sides provided with surfacesunderneath which are slanting with respect to the axis of the cylinder,of printing plates on opposite sides of the margin bar havingWedgeshaped projections adapted to be forced down by the projections onthe margin bar when the plate is moved longitudinally on the cylinder toclamping position.

6. As an article df manufacture, a printing plate having a longitudinalprojection on its straight edge of tapering shape at its outer surface.

.7. The method of clamping down the head and foot of a printing plate ona printing cylinder, which consists in moving the plate longitudinallyon the cylinder to clamping position and causing the longitudinal motionof the plate to force its head and foot rmly against the cylinder atpoints part way between the curved ends of the plate.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD.

